P6

Community How Women Work is all set to help you reach new heights with the upcoming seminar ‘Attracting Wealth and Abundance’.

P16

Community A competition invites people from all over to come out with a design for Nasser al-Attiyah’s helmet.

Sunday, January 29, 2017 Jumada I 1, 1438 AH

DOHA

20°C—25°C TODAY

PUZZLES 12 & 13

LIFESTYLE/HOROSCOPE 14

Understanding autism Given to social conditioning, some parents can not only have wrong notions about the mental condition, but also carry guilt over it! P4-5

COVER STORY

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GULF TIMES Sunday, January 29, 2017

COMMUNITY

ROUND & ABOUT

PRAYER TIME Fajr Shorooq (sunrise) Zuhr (noon) Asr (afternoon) Maghreb (sunset) Isha (night)

4.59am 6.18am 11.47am 2.54pm 5.18pm 6.47pm

USEFUL NUMBERS

Raees DIRECTOR: Rahul Dholakia WRITERS: Rahul Dholakia, Harit Mehta, Niraj Shukla, Ashish Vashi CAST: Mahira Khan, Shah Rukh Khan, Nawazuddin Siddiqui SYNOPSIS: Raees is a 2017 Indian action crime thriller

film directed by Rahul Dholakia and produced by Gauri Khan, Ritesh Sidhwani and Farhan Akhtar under their banners Red Chillies Entertainment and Excel Entertainment. The film unfolds the story of a cruel and clever bootlegger, whose business is challenged by a tough cop. LOCATIONS: Roxy Cinema, Gulf Mall, Villaggio, The Mall, Asian Town, Al Khor Mall, City Center

Monster Trucks DIRECTOR: Chris Wedge WRITER: Derek Connolly CAST: Lucas Till, Jane Levy, Thomas Lennon SYNOPSIS: Monster Trucks is a 2016 American action comedy film produced by Paramount Animation, Nickelodeon Movies and Disruption Entertainment. It was directed by Chris Wedge and tells the story of Tripp, a high school senior.

Looking for any way to get away from the life and town he was born into, Tripp builds a Monster Truck from bits and pieces of scrapped cars. After an accident at a nearby oil-drilling site displaces a strange and subterranean creature with a taste and a talent for speed, Tripp may have just found the key to getting out of town and a most unlikely friend. LOCATIONS: Royal Plaza, Villaggio, Landmark, City Center

Emergency 999 Worldwide Emergency Number 112 Kahramaa – Electricity and Water 991 Local Directory 180 International Calls Enquires 150 Hamad International Airport 40106666 Labor Department 44508111, 44406537 Mowasalat Taxi 44588888 Qatar Airways 44496000 Hamad Medical Corporation 44392222, 44393333 Qatar General Electricity and Water Corporation 44845555, 44845464 Primary Health Care Corporation 44593333 44593363 Qatar Assistive Technology Centre 44594050 Qatar News Agency 44450205 44450333 Q-Post – General Postal Corporation 44464444 Humanitarian Services Office (Single window facility for the repatriation of bodies) Ministry of Interior 40253371, 40253372, 40253369 Ministry of Health 40253370, 40253364 Hamad Medical Corporation 40253368, 40253365 Qatar Airways 40253374

ote Unquote u Q

Every good painter paints what he is. – Jackson Pollock

Community Editor Kamran Rehmat e-mail: [email protected] Telephone: 44466405 Fax: 44350474

Mall Cinema (1): Moana (2D) 2pm; Kaabil (Hindi) 4pm; Monster Trucks (2D) 6:30pm; Raees (Hindi) 8:30pm; Raees (Hindi) 11pm. Mall Cinema (2): Robo-Dog (2D) 2pm; Robo-Dog (2D) 3:45pm; Resident Evil:The Final Chapter (2D) 5:30pm; Xxx: The Return Of Xander Cage (2D) 7:30pm; Resident Evil:The Final Chapter (2D) 9:30pm; Resident Evil:The Final Chapter (2D) 11:30pm. Mall Cinema (3): Raees (Hindi) 2pm; Monster Trucks (2D) 4:30pm; Kaabil (Hindi) 6:30pm; Weaponized (2D) 9pm; Kaabil (Hindi) 10:45pm. Landmark Cinema (1): Raees (Hindi) 2pm; Weaponized (2D) 4:30pm; Raees (Hindi) 6:30pm; Weaponized (2D) 9pm; Raees

Robo-Dog (2D) 4:15pm; Xxx: The Return Of Xander Cage (2D) 6pm; Raees (Hindi) 8pm; Raees (Hindi) 10:30pm. (Hindi) 10:45pm. Royal Plaza Cinema Palace (2): Landmark Cinema (2): Robo-Dog Monster Trucks (2D) 2:15pm; Raees (2D) 2pm; Robo-Dog (2D) 3:45pm; (Hindi) 4:15pm; Resident Evil:The Xxx: The Return Of Xander Cage Final Chapter (2D) 7pm; Resident (2D) 5:30pm; Resident Evil:The Evil:The Final Chapter (2D) 9pm; Final Chapter (2D) 7:15pm; Resident Kaabil (Hindi) 11pm. Evil:The Final Chapter (2D) 9:15pm; Royal Plaza Cinema Palace (3): Resident Evil:The Final Chapter Kaabil (Hindi) 2:30pm; Resident (2D) 11:15pm. Evil:The Final Chapter (2D) 5pm; Landmark Cinema (3): Monster Monster Trucks (2D) 7pm; Kaabil Trucks (2D) 2pm; Kaabil (Hindi) (Hindi) 9pm; Weaponized (2D) 4pm; Monster Trucks (2D) 6:30pm; 11:30pm. Kaabil (Hindi) 8:30pm; Kaabil Asian Town Cinema: Kaabil (Hindi) 11pm. (Hindi) 5, 6:30, 8, 9:30 & 11pm; Royal Plaza Cinema Palace Raees (Hindi) 5, 6:30, 8, 9:30 & (1): Robo-Dog (2D) 2:30pm; 11pm.

Sunday, January 29, 2017

The dugongs of Qatar WHEN: February 1 TIME: 7pm LOCATION: Doha English Speaking School, Madinat Khalifa South Qatar hosts the world second largest population of Dugongs. These sea creatures, also called Sea Cows, are fascinating. They are marine mammals belonging to the order of the Sirenia. They are very discreet and play an important role in the marine ecosystem. Dr Christopher Warren by of Exxon Mobile Research Qatar has been studying the dugongs of Qatar and will share some results of his research in the lecture. For more details, please visit www. qnhg.org

residential writers’ workshops in France and the UK, so this is an opportunity for people in Doha to attend his course. The fee for the workshop will be QR350, including lunch and refreshments. The number of participants is limited to 16 and space is confirmed when payment is received. The workshop will cover different aspects of children’s writing – getting inside a young mind, character, viewpoint and plotting. The intention will be that everyone will go home with a piece or two of writing after a creative and stimulating fun day with time at the end for questions and social interaction. For further information and to book a seat, please e-mail [email protected]

FCC’s Women’s Sport Festival WHEN: February 17 Vanitha Sports Fest is being organised by Friends Cultural Centre Vanithavedi on the occasion of Qatar Sport Day on February 17. The competitions are in the following categories for individuals: walking–1.5kms; skipping race–100metres; sack race– 50metres; running race–100metres; running race–200metres; lemon running race; shot put; and long jump. For groups, the competitions are 4 x 50metres relay race; tug-of-war; Three legged race–50metres; and throw ball. For registration and more details, please contact telephone numbers: 55643799, 66787007, or 55271038.

Qatar Superstock 600 Championship Round 3 WHERE: Losail International Circuit TIME: 10am WHEN: February 3 & 4 Qatar SuperStock 600 is a new road racing championship organised by Qatar Motor Motorcycle Federation and Losail Circuit Sports Club. The championship will have 12 races over 6 rounds at the Losail International Circuit. The riders are competing using one-make bikes that will be used for the rest of the season, a stocked 600cc bike. The organisers bill it as “a great chance for every competitor to test themselves and fight for the title in fair racing conditions and in a professional environment”. Grandstand and Paddock area are open for free to all the spectators.

Writing Workshop with author Alan Durant WHEN: February 11 WHERE: ISL Qatar TIME: 8:45am to 4pm ISL Qatar is offering a writer’s workshop with children’s author Alan Durant on Saturday, February 11. Alan regularly offers

Spring Festival 2017 WHERE: Souq Waqif and Souq Al Wakrah WHEN: Until February 3 Souq Waqif and Souq Al Wakrah are organising their Spring Festival 2017 from January 19 to February 3. Visitors can look forward to a number of activities and performances as part of the festival.

Sri Lanka’s 69th Independence Day celebrations WHEN: February 10 WHERE: Radisson Blu Hotel TIME: 5pm The Sri Lankan community in Qatar will celebrate the country’s 69th Independence Day (Nidahas Udanaya 2017), which falls on February 4, with a cultural programme on Friday, February 10 at Radisson Blu Hotel. The programme will start at 5pm. The programme is being organised by the Sri Lankan embassy in collaboration with Sri Lanka Coordinating Committee Qatar. Chandana Wickramasinghe and the Dancers Guild are being flown in from Sri Lanka for

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COMMUNITY

ROUND & ABOUT EVENTS

GULF TIMES

the celebrations. Students from the dance academy of Dinu Rangayathanaya will also showcase their talents at the celebrations. Chandanas dancers perform traditional dances and have enthralled audiences across the globe with their scintillating performances on stage. This is their third visit to Doha and the audience can be assured of an entertaining evening of dance during the celebrations. Tickets are priced at QR40 and QR60 and are available at all Sri Lankan outlets. Gates open at 4pm. For more information call Ranjith Gurusinghe at 66580392/50409246, Dhammika Jayasena at 55654241 or Viddya Sri Shanthikumara at 77512657.

between January 7 and February 7 will be available with a 25% discount. In addition, members of Qatar Airways’ Privilege Club will receive double Q-miles on their booking during Shop Qatar. Retail outlets around the country will be providing discounts of up to 50% on a range of consumer goods including clothes, electronics, cosmetics and accessories for men, women and children. To find out more, visit www.shopqatar.qa Attractions include the Kingdom of Snakes at the Al Rayyan Theater in Souq Waqif. The Great Awakening exhibition WHERE: Building 18, Katara WHEN: Until January 31 TIME: 10am-10pm Cultural village foundation – Katara and the embassy of the Republic of Ecuador present The Great Awakening exhibition by Maria Veronica. On display are 35 pieces of art by Veronica, who has adopted a highly technical style in her pieces that range across paintings, drawings, photography and video-art. Hereke Carpet Exhibition WHERE: Maysaloun Hall, Gate Mall WHEN: Until January 31 The Gate Mall and Salam International Investment have joined hands with Turkey’s Han Hali, the leading production house of Turkey’s Hereke carpets, to unveil The Hereke Carpet exhibition as a treat for Qatar’s art lovers and collectors. On full display at The Gate Mall’s Maysaloun Hall is a stunning collection of legendary carpets. Hailing from an ancient town in Turkey and laying claim to a unique artistic heritage of its own, Hereke carpets are historic masterpieces. From Buckingham Palace, to the Hermitage Museum in St. Petersburg, the White House to Château de Versailles, the carpets are known to adorn iconic locations celebrating an artistic discipline that is admired by the world. Trevor Noah live at the Doha Comedy Festival WHEN: Feb 2-4 TIME: 8pm WHERE: Qatar National Convention Center Doha Comedy Festival is returning for a third time. The line-up includes the world’s top performers from the US, UK, Middle East and the GCC. The festival will host world-renowned standup comedian and international TV host of The Daily Show – Trevor Noah and the British comedian, ventriloquist, and winner of Season 10 of America’s Got Talent – Paul Zerdin. These talents will join extremely popular performers from the Middle East and the GCC including Bader Saleh whose YouTube show garnered over 346 million views, Nemr Abou Nassar entitled with ‘Lebanon’s King of Comedy’, the Jordanian comic critic Rajae Qawas, Syrian social media activist and comedian Mohanad al-Hattab, Egyptian standup comedian Mohamed Salem and the fluent Arabic-speaking comedian from South Korea – Wonho Chung to name a few. Shop Qatar WHERE: Across Qatar WHEN: Until February 7 Shop Qatar will be the first edition of Qatar’s month-long shopping festival. As part of efforts to provide visitors with the complete package, Qatar Tourism Authority (QTA) has partnered with Qatar Airways to ensure flights to Qatar from within the GCC region booked on the airline for the period

Al Gannas (For school students) Until March 31, 2017 9am–Noon Al Gannas Society Free (For boys only, requires registration) Al Gannas association is participating in the “Our culture is a school” programme, by organising many activities for the students every Monday and Wednesday of the week. These activities include explanations on hunting and related items tools, kinds of falcons and preys, in addition to workshop on how to carry a falcon, set a traditional tent (made of goat & camel heir), prepare traditional Arabic coffee and start a fire. For further details, visit katara.net Muhammad Ali: Tribute to a Legend DATE: Until February 25, 2017 WHERE: Eastern Gallery, 4th Floor, Museum of Islamic Art The temporary exhibition is curated by Qatar Museums’ 3-2-1 Olympic and Sports Museum and presents a unique collection of artefacts from the boxing legend’s career, including photography from Ali’s outdoor exhibition bout at the Doha Stadium in 1971 and memorabilia spanning his journey to the 1960 Rome Olympics; Ali’s world title winning bout against Sonny Liston in 1964 and his final world title winning fight against Leon Spinks in New Orleans in 1978. Qatar Music Academy (For school students) Until March 28, 2017 11am–2pm Free (Requires registration) Qatar Music Academy focuses on teaching its students the principles of Arab and Western music. As part of the “Our Culture is a School” programme, Qatar Music Academy has offered interested schools the opportunity to attend various workshops. These workshops will include an introduction to Arab and Western music and instruments, as well as the teachers giving a brief overview of the educational music programmes at the Academy. For further details, visit katara.net Fitness Training DATE: Sunday, Tuesday, Thursday TIME: 6pm-7pm VENUE: MIA Park There are fitness classes in the park on Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday nights between 6 and 7pm. Open to all levels of fitness, Bootcamp is an intensive and fun way to train and also meet new people in the open and friendly group atmosphere. More information, from Bootcamp, Qatar or [email protected]

E-mail: [email protected], Events and timings subject to change

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GULF TIMES Sunday, January 29, 2017

COMMUNITY

COVER STORY

“It is like any other condition. So why stigmatise autism?” — Dr Muhammad Waqar Azeem, Chair, Qatar National Autism Working Group

SUNDAY CONVERSATION

There are parents who suffer guilt, and blame themselves. It’s important to understand that we are not aware of the exact cause of autism, so blaming anyone is inappropriate

Sunday, January 29, 2017

GULF TIMES

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COMMUNITY

COVER STORY

MANTRA: The ultimate goal of treatment and intervention is to ensure the children dealing with autism grow up to become productive members of society.

By Ane Aney Mathew

E

ve if you only had a casual ven interest in art, chances are int you’ve y ou heard of Stephen Wiltshire — the celebrated, W ilts British architectural artist Britis Br famed for hiss abil ability to draw from fa memory memory a landscape, lan ndsca accurately and an nd in great detail deetail aafter seeing it just once. draw entire cities on nce. Stephen can d from based fro om memory, b ased on single, brief helicopter rides. heelicopter rides s. Stephen’s artt has wo won him much acclaim including MBE. What ac includin ng an M makes fascinating makes his work and fasci ability intriguing is the ability even more morre intrigui fact he has autism. Stephen’s story autissm. Stephe while different is not uniqu unique; he joins the rankss of several gift gifted personalities w who ho have had to deal with autism.. T People The point? Peop suffering from fro om autism can go on to lead fully p productive roductive lives given the right environment. envi virronment. It is believed that even the he famed Michelangelo may have ssuff autism! uffered from auti “A condition conditio that has been gaining much much attention in the recent times, autism is a very complex neuropsychiatric condition and over the last decade, there has been a dramatic increase in the number of diagnosed cases worldwide,” says Dr Muhammad Waqar Azeem, Chair, Qatar National Autism Working Group. “Recent figures from the US confirm that 1 in 68 children are affected by the condition. The situation in each country is naturally different and the prevalence of autism in Qatar is currently under study. However, if we did extrapolate the figure of 1 in 68 children or even 1 in 100 children in Qatar, as suffering from autism, we could have anywhere from 3,000 to 5,000 children and adolescents in Qatar with autism,” he adds. Dr Azeem also serves as CoChair, WISH Autism Forum; Chair, Department of Psychiatry, Sidra Medical and Research Center; and Advisory Committee Member for Renad Academy. Autism is a condition that can be isolating for the person who has it, and autism symptoms are tough to understand from the outside. Every person with autism is different,

and there is no single perspective regarding children with autism. But there are some issues that are shared by many on the autism spectrum. It is characterised by social impairments, communication difficulties, and restricted, repetitive, and stereotyped patterns of behaviour. As a result, children suffering from autism can have major challenges. They may avoid eye contact, prefer to play alone, not understand personal boundaries, have unusual mood swings, or be over-sensitive to light, sound, and touch. They form a vulnerable population and hence require significant attention depending on the acuteness of their condition. Caring for children with autism According to Dr Azeem, early intervention is the key to seeing success in the long run. In some western countries, therapy begins in children as young as 1 to 3 years of age; behavioural therapy, speech and language therapy, and occupational therapy have all proved to be very effective. Speech and language therapy becomes even more crucial in the case of 3 to 5 year olds. It is important that parents keep their children away from treatments offered through chelation or hyperbaric oxygen chambers, as there is no bonafide research supporting them and they can even be dangerous to the child. The ultimate goal of treatment and intervention is to ensure the children dealing with autism grow up to become productive members of society. Encouraging examples of children growing up to become successful musicians, artists, researchers, and even scientists should offer great hope to parents. Social awareness As with most developmental disabilities, the stigma associated with autism is a major issue. “It’s important to understand autism is a different way of thinking and acting, it is like any other condition. There is no stigma associated with diabetes or asthma, so why stigmatise autism?” asks Dr Azeem as he stresses the importance of creating awareness among the general public on this issue.

Pointing out another challenge faced by the families who have children with autism, Dr Azeem emphasises: “Schooling plays a huge role in the development of children with autism; however, we find many regular schools in Qatar shy away from taking them in. Once in school, fellow students and even teachers are often unaware of the symptoms presented by these children and the difficulties they face. As a result when confronted with behavioural issues from these children, the tendency is to label them as disobedient or rebellious. A child seen as ‘acting up’ could be dealing with sensory issues. The goal is to ensure these children obtain the services they require from schools. So it is important to get the schools to be knowledgeable about autism and provide the necessary services. Building awareness within the education system is a necessity.” Challenges persist outside the walls of the school, too. For instance, a child with autism experiencing sensory overloads could be disturbed by loud noises or sirens, and could react in unusual ways. Unable to understand what is going on within the child, most people tend to view the conduct as misbehaviour and expect the parents to deal strictly with the child. As Dr Azeem points out, community awareness helps people empathise with the difficulties faced by children with autism, as well

Tips for parenting a child on the autism spectrum z Remember each child is an individual z Family support is crucial z Focus on the child’s strengths, not only on the areas that need improvement z Early intervention is the key z Behavioural and occupational therapies can be very helpful z Speech and language therapy is crucial z Education in the right environment with right support is important z Interacting through play is helpful z Get support from families, professionals, and friends z Remain hopeful and never give up. z Remember your child is special; given time and the right environment he or she can flourish.

as their families. Social acceptance is vital to the child’s success. Family matters One of the greatest areas of challenge and one that is often overlooked are the difficulties faced by families, especially the primary caregiver of the child. Expounding on the important role families are called to play, Dr Azeem explains, “Child is the extension of the family; when the child suffers, the whole family suffers. When you are dealing with a child challenged with sensitivities, simple everyday tasks like going to the barber or a visit to the ATM can be difficult. The situation is very challenging, and at times, mothers caring for children with autism suffer from depression. Hence support must be extended by all members and

A journey of hope Qatar has been taking several measures to increase national and global awareness on autism. A campaign supported by HH Sheikha Moza bint Nasser through the United Nations in 2007, resulted in April 2nd being declared ‘World Autism Day’ in perpetuity; additionally, all member states have been encouraged to take measures to raise awareness on autism throughout society. Qatar has been working on a National Autism Plan (first in the region). Several stakeholders including the public sector, private sector, ministries, and families came together while working on the plan. Based on their feedback, recommendations have been made in six important areas: awareness; screening and early detection; diagnosis and assessments; treatment and interventions; education (role of schools); and transition to adulthood. Qatar Foundation extends huge support to children with autism and their families. The opening of Renad Academy, a school under the QF umbrella, under the leadership of HE Sheikha Hind bint Hamad al-Thani is an example. The

the entire family must work together as a unit. For instance, it is imperative that both the parents attend hospital and school appointments together. “Some families are amazing in the way they accept the situation and deal with the fact that a member has struggles, but some families take it hard. There are several parents who suffer guilt, and blame themselves for having done something wrong which could have resulted in their child having autism. It’s important to understand that we are not aware of the exact cause of autism, so blaming anyone is inappropriate. They also feel guilty about neglecting the other children in the family. It’s important for society to understand, empathise and be supportive; this can only be achieved through creating awareness at a nationwide level.”

academy offers a world-class programme to children diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder. The Autism Forum of WISH (World Innovation Summit for Health), an initiative of Qatar Foundation, comprises 11 experts from around the world. Best evidencebased ideas and practices are reported with strong recommendations at the WISH summits. Shafallah Center for Children with Special Needs, Rumailah Hospital, Sidra Medical and Research Center, and HMC are examples of institutions that provide help and support. Several private schools and centres — begun privately mostly by parents — are also functioning very effectively in offering remarkable services to cater to the needs of children with autism. Parents have formed a very strong organisation at a national level and are producing highly commendable results. They are fervent advocates to the cause and play a huge part in creating awareness within the community. In addition to conferences being held by the public sector, national conferences on autism are also being organised by private organisations, and parents who have children with autism.

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GULF TIMES Sunday, January 29, 2017

COMMUNITY

Learn about attracting wealth and abundance

A glimpse into a previous HWW seminar. In the coming months, HWW will be hosting its much-awaited March conference on Woman’s Day, which is March 8, and the big How Women Find Work conference in May.

By Anand Holla

O

n the back of a well-received seminar on how to lead a successful and confident lifestyle, How Women Work (HWW) is all set to help you reach new heights with the upcoming seminar ‘Attracting Wealth and Abundance’. Known for doing mainly community work here in Qatar since 2009, HWW has been bringing people together as its members belong to various communities and actively participate in a range of events. To empower the womenfolk of Qatar, on February 13, Evridiki Iliaki, the Qatar-based Certified Business and Life Coach and Head of HWW,

will be conducting the Attracting Wealth and Abundance seminar at 6pm at the City Centre Rotana Hotel. Iliaki tells Community, “With this seminar, on February 13, HWW will bring a turn of innovation to the training world of Qatar. We will inspire people to believe that there is a way to change your mind-set and attract wealth, abundance, and happiness, in your life, and we will also give tips for people who want to make safe investments and be financial independent.” Having studied human behaviour and success for more than 15 years, Iliaki meets everyday clients who haven’t found their true career purpose and find their dreams unfulfilled. She knows the true reason behind that, she says, and will share the

secret of “changing your mind-set and attracting wealth and abundance” in the seminar. “If you are ready to be inspired to master the power of belief, destroy doubt, and rise above mediocrity, then this is for you,” the preview note to the seminar says. “Are you ready to begin living a life of wealth and abundance? Are you ready to be inspired to change your mind-set?” The seminar, Iliaki says, aims to identify and overcome self-limiting beliefs; destroy doubt and cultivate your faith; set you free to dream big; silence those voices that keep you from living a rich life; inspire you to find your true career purpose; help you live outside the box and your human limitations; help attract opportunities for yourself; teach you a powerful, visualisation technique to attract wealth in your life, and create a Life of wealth and abundance. To secure your attendance at the seminar, you can RSVP [email protected] – registration starts at 6pm and the seminar starts at 6:30pm. The admission fee for the seminar is QR150, and it is a limited attendance event. In the coming months, HWW will be hosting its much-awaited March conference on Woman’s Day, which is March 8, and the big How Women Find Work conference in May. HWW also has a support group that provides free counselling for women in need, and it does so “in a respectful manner, always trying to direct cases if needed to local Muslim family centres and other local authorities,” points out Iliaki. “This year, we want to highlight this

aspect and emphasise that one of our goals towards which we are working hard is to show that women from all nationalities and backgrounds can stand together and help each other to be successful together, building each other along the way. We are blessed to live in a safe country that has welcomed us all and help us flourish. So we should all work together in harmony to contribute to its great development as well,” Iliaki says. When asked about what are the guiding principles of a successful life that you live by, Iliaki had said in a recent interview to Community, “The first principle is to have ‘Life Principles’. This, most times, comes from your upbringing and is strongly connected to your morals and values. Right now, I have a very specific specialised, successful lifestyle, tailor-made for me. This is what I am best at and this is why I am popular around the world. I have clients that employ me clearly to help them acquire their own unique, successful lifestyle.” “I find that extremely important. So I have specific, daily, principles or regimes set for my diet, exercise, and I have a form of positive visualisation exercise that I follow, which is like praying or meditating. My life is devoted to my true purpose in life, which is to do service through my work and that makes me fulfilled and happy. One of the last principles I want to share is something Hippocrates said: ‘Count your blessings and your fire/passion will light the way’. I am very grateful every day. As time goes by, I feel more and more people will receive and value the benefit of my work.”

Sunday, January 29, 2017

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COMMUNITY Indonesian preacher goes on Islamic lecture tour through Qatar Well-known Indonesian preacher Ustadz Dr Syafiq Riza Basalamah MA went across Qatar between January 24 and 27 for an Islamic lecture programme. The programme was organised by the Indonesian community in collaboration with the Ministry of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs (AWQAFM) and the lectures were conducted in Doha, Al Wakrah and Al Khor. Indonesian ambassador Air Marshal (Ret) Muhammad Basri Sidehabi appreciated the role of Indonesian community, especially the Indonesian Community Association in Qatar (Permiqa), in promoting socio-cultural activities by arranging various lectures in Qatar. In his speech, the ambassador also urged his compatriots to respect the Qatari law and traditions. “All Indonesian citizens residing in Qatar are advised to respect the law and tradition of the host

country, to help further strengthen Indonesia-Qatar relations. By holding this lecture series, we are confident that the bilateral relations between the two countries will continue to develop in the future.” The lectures were attended by people from other countries such as Malaysia and Brunei as well, in addition to Indonesian expatriates. Ustadz Syukron Habibie, organiser, said the lectures aimed to improve Islamic knowledge amongst the participants. Indonesian embassy’s Minister Counselor Boy Dharmawan said that the event was part of the community’s socio-cultural promotion in Qatar. The lectures were broadcast by Indonesian Radio through live Internet streaming.

PISQ organises annual sports meet The Pakistan International School Qatar (PISQ) organised their annual sports meet recently. The chief guest was Hafiz Junaid Amir Sial, Community Welfare Attaché at the Pakistan embassy. The guest of honour was Syed Mussaid Nasir al-Muhannadi from the from Ministry of Labour. Also in attendance were Principal Nargis Raza Otho, vice-principals of all the four sections and others. The main attraction of the day was the aerobics showcased by the students of the junior wing. It was followed by a PT display demonstrated by the girls’ wing. The event included a variety of athletic games, including ball balancing, spider race, sprint race,

obstacle race, and chain and wheel barrow race. The tug-of-war between Grade XI and Grade XII students was won by the later. The winners were given medals in the end. From the junior wing, Khadeeja House were declared the champions, while Iqbal House was declared the boys’ champion. KG1-Red (KG wing), VII-A (girls wing ), and X-B (boys wing) were declared the best classes of the school. Muqarab Yousaf (junior wing), Abu Huraira (boys’ wing), and Farah Ramzan (girls’ wing) were selected as the best athletes.

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GULF TIMES Sunday, January 29, 2017

COMMUNITY

TRA

Breckenridge: A romant

The preserved historic buildings along Main Street in Breckenridge aren't far from the slopes.

Skiers take the lift up Peak 6 at the resort.

By Laylan Connelly

S

nowflakes floating from a grey sky tickled my face and sent a chill up my spine. I snuggled closer to my husband, our legs dangling from the lift at Colorado’s Breckenridge Ski Resort, where fresh snow softly dropped onto tree branches and formed a fluffy white

blanket below as we inched higher and higher up the mountain. “I’m sooo cold,” I said slyly as I laid my head on his shoulder. He smiled at the inside joke, a flashback to a simpler time in our relationship: before kids, before marriage, before a mortgage and all the other life stresses that had consumed us of late. Seven years ago, on our third date, we headed to the slopes of Mountain High, a small resort an hour and a half

from Orange County, California, USA for a night session on fresh powder. He, apparently, didn’t know it was a date and thought I just wanted a friend to hit the slopes with. And he, apparently, didn’t realise how sexy I thought his snowboarding skills were as we rode together between the trees. So I scooted closer to him on the lift and declared that I needed warming up, an invitation to wrap his arm around me. While most of our weekends are consumed with surfing, snowboarding is a close second when winter months roll around. We’ve surfed and snowboarded in the same day, taken quick weekend getaways to nearby Big Bear, or made the longer trek to Mammoth Mountain. We sighed with sadness when we realised last year our snowboard gear had collected dust all season. Having our second child, our sweet Liliani, just before winter made it impossible. So when my husband, Jon, editor for action sports website GrindTV, told me about a trip he had to take in early December to Breckenridge for the Dew Tour festival, I let out a desperate plea. “Can I come?” I asked, glancing at

my year-old daughter, her blond hair covered in green broccoli bits, and my son, Kai, a high-energy 3-year-old who has the opinion and will of a wild teenager, refusing to eat his. “Pleeeeasse?” Don’t get me wrong, I love my kids. But any parent with two young children will tell you that sometimes you just need a break from the crying and screaming and servitude that come with being a mom. And thankfully, gracious grandparents allowed us to make our getaway. The flight from Orange County was easy, a 2.5-hour jaunt into Denver. With snow in the forecast, and we being native Californians who freak out about driving in any kind of weather, we opted to hitch a ride with Colorado Mountain Express. As we got closer to the mountain, the snow really started to come down, with inches-thick drifts forming on parked cars we passed. We were just about jumping out of our seats at the sight of fresh powder. We arrived at the DoubleTree hotel, known for its sinfully delicious, warm, chocolate chip-walnut cookies at check-in.

It was too late to hit the slopes when we arrived, so the establishment across the street from our hotel would be our first stop. As we walked across the snowcovered street, arm in arm, it felt like we were dating again. We played pool and relaxed, with no children to tuck into bed. The next morning, we woke to a winter wonderland – the storm had brought about half a foot of new snow, and the town was buzzing about it. “You scored,” said a shuttle driver, who dropped me at the gondola to catch a ride up to the mountain. “It’s been a rough start to the season; we haven’t had any snow. It should be epic.” With my husband already on the mountain covering the snowboard competition, I found myself sharing the gondola with local skier Susan Briggs, who was heading up to watch her niece, Keri Herman, in the women’s ski slopestyle event. It turned out Briggs was an expert on the topic of love on the slopes. After meeting on match.com six years ago, she and her now-boyfriend Dan Herman had their first date on the slopes.

Sunday, January 29, 2017

GULF TIMES

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COMMUNITY

AVEL

tic ski getaway

A skier at the Lake Chutes at the Breckenridge Ski Resort.

Breck team rider Steve Fisher rides at Breckenridge Ski Resort.

IF YOU GO

Houses in Breckenridge looking toward Breckenridge Ski Resort. “It’s the perfect first date; you’re doing something you love,” she said. “If you don’t like it, you can say ‘Oh, I missed the run.’” Which, she admitted with a chuckle, she had done on previous dates. But with Dan, she knew it was love on first lift. “We went out there and we had a blast, we just had a wonderful time,” she said. That got me excited to see my hubby, who was able to sneak away from work long enough to take a few runs with me on the fresh powder. We felt like our younger selves as we raced down the mountain. He’s always been faster than me, so I tried to match the tracks that formed as his board cut through the powder. He weaved his way down the slopes. I zigged, he zagged. We stopped to take a moment to

soak in the beauty surrounding us. His relaxation was short-lived as he got back to work at the Dew Tour event. The festival is like Huntington Beach’s US Open of Surfing – with snow instead of sand, rails and jumps instead of waves, and a lot more clothes covering contestants’ and spectators’ bodies. A festival area was set up at the base of the hill giving out swag, and fans could get up close to some of the world’s best action-sports athletes as they flipped, turned and slid down the slopes. These are the same athletes you’ll see in the Olympics and X Games, putting on an exciting show on the snow. I was stoked to catch the men’s slopestyle finals as Canadian Mark McMorris, a well-known figure in the world of jibs and jumps, took the win. The crowd cheered as he stepped up to the podium, sending a rush of energy up the mountain.

Another favourite moment from the festival was when Main Street downtown was shut down for the Streetstyle contest, with old-school hip-hop blaring from loudspeakers as the crowds screamed at the sight of competitors doing tricks snowboarding and skiing in the middle of town. After that event, we decided on a meal at our hotel in the 9600 restaurant. It was romantically lit, a fine setting for a couple on a getaway. I ordered the salmon, cooked perfectly, skin on and seared crisp on the outside and pink and tender on the inside, accompanied by lemony Brussels sprouts and a celery root puree. The food options in Breckenridge are endless. One night, we stuffed ourselves silly at Michael’s Italian Restaurant, putting back all those calories we burned on the slopes. The tortellini I ordered swam in a

Where to stay: You can’t go wrong with the DoubleTree Breckenridge ($199 and up), which is walking distance from ski lifts Quicksilver and Beaver Run. A shuttle will pick you up and drop you off in town at the main gondola that takes you to the ski resort. Three small spas are set outside the hotel to soothe sore muscles after a day on the slopes, and a warmed pool is indoors. There’s also a men’s and women’s sauna for those who really need to warm the bones, as well as a fitness centre. And you can’t beat those warm DoubleTree cookies, which the front desk is happy to hand out any time you ask. Lift tickets: $142 for adults ($136 online) weekdays, $161 ($155 online) weekends

Off the mountain: For sore muscle relief, take a yoga class or get a massage. Or do both. Meta yoga studio offers everything from gentle classes to hot yoga, with views of the snowy mountains. Cost is $18 for a drop-in class, with free mats available. For soothing relief and relaxation, there’s Simply Massage, where an hour-long session costs $75. Must know: The altitude at Breckenridge is about 9,600 feet. Getting used to the altitude can be rough – expect anything from nausea to headaches, fatigue or trouble sleeping, shortness of breath, increased heart rate or a jittery feeling. There’s a reason oxygen bars are set around town, and even though getting a dose of O2 costs more than $1 per minute, it can provide needed relief.

heavy basil cream. I scarfed down every bite, soaking up a bit of sauce with bread. On our last night we found a meal to satisfy our chilly bones as the snow continued to fall, at a Vietnamese joint called Pho Real that had opened a few months before. The pho had a salty yet satisfying broth filled with white vermicelli noodles, with a choice of meat that can include thin slices of rare beef or chicken, accompanied with fresh herbs like mint or Thai basil and spiked with a jalapeno or two. Seems we weren’t the only ones who enjoyed hot soup on a cold night,

with a line out the door of people putting in their orders. After warming our souls, we walked slowly through the snow that covered Main Street back to our hotel, where we had to pack our bags to head back to the beach near our home in Orange County. We knew we’d soon be home, back to the grind and deadlines, picking broccoli out of our kids’ hair. But we’d be re-energised and reconnected in a way only a few days on the slopes can provide for a snow-craving couple in love. – The Orange County Register/ TNS

10 GULF TIMES Sunday, January 29, 2017

COMMUNITY Sri Lankan forum donates money, winter clothes to Qatar Charity The Sri Lankan Community Welfare Forum Qatar handed a cheque worth QR25,000 to Qatar Charity through the Friends Cultural Centre recently. The forum also handed QR6,500 worth of winter clothes. The donations were collected from Sri Lankans living in Qatar.

‘Taste of Morocco’ at Sheraton Sheraton Grand Doha Resort & Convention Hotel invites guests to an “exciting Moroccan Food Festival at the well renowned Al Hubra restaurant”. The festival is going on until Tuesday, daily from 7pm onwards. Al Hubara restaurant will be dressed up with a variety of authentic Morrocan menu. Chef Issam Seddoq will be presenting a multitude of delicacies having distinct aromatic flavours to entice the diners, where he will drive guests through a culinary journey featuring live

cooking stations, in addition to the large spread of buffet offerings. The festival will introduce the essence of the Moroccan cuisine, where guests will indulge in some genuine menu, including the traditional Moroccan tajine, the couscous, and not to forget, the Pastilla, as well as a wide variety of meat, chicken, fish and vegetables. The meal will be completed with Moroccan mint tea. The deal is for QR 285. Guests will also enjoy live Qanun music played at the venue.

French Night at Coral All-Day Dining

Chef Issam Seddoq

Coral All-Day Dining at InterContinental Doha is “bringing you the taste of France without leaving the comfort of your table”. Inspired by traditional French service style, service en confusion (which means meals are served all at once), the restaurant is inviting its guests to indulge in sophisticated French cuisine in the heart of Doha. The restaurant says: “Enjoy the perfect weather as you dine outdoors at the Coral Terrace overlooking the pool. Take your palate on an adventure of discovery and indulge in a tantalising selection of fresh oysters, pan-seared scallop foie gras, juicy beef bourgignon, live cooking stations, and many more deliciously paired with our fresh fruit juices and authentic French house beverages. Complete your experience with our tempting selection of French desserts such as macarons and decadent eclairs.” French ambassador Eric Chevallier cut the ribbon, commemorating the launch of the French Night in Coral All-Day Dining. InterContinental Doha Resident Manager Cyril Mouawad accompanied the ambassador. The restaurant has also arranged a playroom for children, which features a number of game consoles, television, ball pit, LEGO. French Night takes place every Sunday from 7pm until 11pm. The price is QR225, inclusive of a house beverage.

Sunday, January 29, 2017

INFOGRAPHIC

GULF TIMES

COMMUNITY

11

12 GULF TIMES Sunday, January 29, 2017

COMMUNITY Wordsearch

Adam

Pooch Cafe

Lucky Sevens BLESSED CONCORD CONTENT DELIGHT DOLLARS FITNESS FORTUNE

FRIENDS HARMONY HEALTHY HOLIDAY KINDRED LEISURE PASSION

REJOICE RESPECT ROMANCE WEALTHY WEEKEND

Codeword

Puzzles courtesy: Puzzlechoice.com

Every letter of the alphabet is used at least once. Squares with the same number in have the same letter in. Work out which number represents which letter.

Garfield

Sudoku

Bound And Gagged

Sudoku is a puzzle based on a 9x9 grid. The grid is also divided into nine (3x3) boxes. You are given a selection of values and to complete the puzzle, you must fill the grid so that every column, every anone is repeated.

PUZZLES/CARTOONS

Sunday, January 29, 2017

13

COMMUNITY

PUZZLES Quick Clues

ACROSS 7. Public funds (6) 8. Visitor (6) 10. Uniform (7) 11. Concise (5) 12. Small bay (4) 13. Essential (5) 17. Condition (5) 18. Inflamed eye-lid (4) 22. Salt water (5) 23. Cut short (7) 24. Transfer (6) 25. Battle cry (6)

GULF TIMES

Colouring

DOWN 1. Largest bird (7) 2. Pardon (7) 3. Aptitude (5) 4. Biased (7) 5. Vigilant (5) 6. Salute (5) 9. Truce (9) 14. Extend (7) 15. Alien (7) 16. Effective (7) 19. Revile (5) 20. Inflexible (5) 21. Amusing (5)

Cryptic Clues

Answers Wordsearch

CRYPTIC ACROSS 7. Big racial issue? (6) 8. Foreign office? (6) 10. Many an employee is not a qualified driver (7) 11. Beautiful girl one may ring, we hear! (5) 12. Stop a baby crying with a sweetmeat (4) 13. Net takings? (5) 17. Increase the strain (5) 18. Support a professional on the piano (4) 22. Rascal found in church, we hear (5) 23. A coach who makes many coaches show hesitation (7) 24. Posers seldom resolved (6) 25. Though in decay, the vehicle is still strong (6)

DOWN 1. Get cleared in order to follow the Customs officer’s advice (7) 2. An account that has been overdrawn? (7) 3. Brooks as a poet (5) 4. Delayed, so returned to one’s starting position (3, 4) 5. Province of a genuine French gentleman (5) 6. These administrations may take measures (5) 9. Possibly means torn decorations (9) 14. Sea-lord orders trials (7) 15. For the present one may go for a dip in it (4, 3) 16. Drinks lacking body? (7) 19. Be niggardly in a task, impatient too (5) 20. Two letters of convenient size (5) 21. Adult in uniform (5)

Codeword

Yesterday’s Solutions QUICK Across: 1 Idler; 4 Proffer; 8 Derange; 9 Strip; 10 Free; 11 Accurate; 13 Even; 14 Here; 16 Guttural; 17 Cash; 20 Breed; 21 Explode; 22 Element; 23 Tight. Down: 1 Indefatigable; 2 Large; 3 Ring; 4 Pierce; 5 Obscured; 6 Forgave; 7 Replenishment; 12 Befuddle; 13 Extreme; 15 Patent; 18 Along; 19 Spot.

CRYPTIC Across: 1 Hives; 4 Embrace; 8 Tonight; 9 Lined; 10 Oust; 11 Prussian; 13 Plan; 14 Eyes; 16 Patriots; 17 Beta; 20 Ashen; 21 Element; 22 Tirades; 23 Later. Down: 1 Hot-house plant; 2 Vends; 3 Sago; 4 Entire; 5 Bulls-eye; 6 Aunties; 7 End in disaster; 12 Rationed; 13 Pitcher; 15 Steers; 18 Erect; 19 Well.

14 GULF TIMES Sunday, January 29, 2017

COMMUNITY

LIFESTYLE/HOROSCOPE

Simple, healthy twists to favourite family foods F

rom favourite meals to the snacks they ask for daily, you probably have a list committed to memory of the foods your family enjoys most. Wish you could up the nutrition factor on some of those items? With a few healthy twists, you can easily encourage your family to eat more wholesome snacks and meals while still appealing to their taste buds. Snack fresh When hunger pangs strike, but it’s not yet mealtime, reach for fresh fruit. Get a little creative by making fruit parfaits by layering chopped fresh fruit with yogurt and granola. Packed with vitamins and minerals, you can feel good when your kids ask for more. Super sides Get creative by adding fresh produce into side dishes. For example,

add red pepper, mushrooms, onion, tomato and lime juice to Knorr Fiesta Sides Yellow Rice. Want to make it a meal? Add a protein like sauteed chicken breast cut into bite-size pieces.

Satisfy the crunch craving Sometimes your family just wants something crunchy so they reach for that bag of chips. Stop! Instead of chips, prepare crunchy vegetable sticks like jicama, carrots and cucumbers. They’re great for dipping and packing in the kids’ lunches. Double the vegetables For a nutrition boost, double the vegetables in favourite family recipes. For example, you can take Knorr’s recipe for Fiesta Lime Chicken and give it a nutritious spin with two or three tomatoes instead of just one.

ARIES March 21 — April 19

Today’s Moon in Cancer, your fourth house of home and family makes this the perfect day to spend quality time with your closest friends and family.

CANCER June 21 — July 22

Tomorrow brings with it your annual Full Moon – a time for you to make some big decisions and in many cases, realise you’re barking up the wrong tree and make a 180 turn.

LIBRA

September 23 — October 22 Don’t allow your insecurities and fears overshadow all the other things that work so well for you right now. If you let the negatives slide in, they will destroy all those good things you’ve got going for you.

CAPRICORN December 22 — January 19

Stop and think about your next steps goats. Today is the run up to tomorrow’s Full Moon in your relationship zone. If there is anyone you might not want to spend too much time with, avoid them as much as you can.

©Brandpoint

TAURUS April 20 — May 20

Don’t let a silly or side comment someone makes today put you off doing something you really want to do bulls. People simply want to stop your progress at times.

LEO

July 23 — August 22 Stop and make sure you are thinking clearly today – particularly workwise – with the Sun and Pluto in your tenth house of career and a Full Moon in your past karma zone.

SCORPIO October 23 — November 21

Unless you really feel that you should speak up and say something, you might want to keep quiet today and not trample on anyone’s feelings. Keep in mind that tomorrow’s upcoming Full Moon will shine on your spiritual house.

AQUARIUS January 20 — February 18

There are way too many things on top of your ‘to do’ list right now. It’s time to start ticking some of them off right now and with a Full Moon rising in your sixth house of hard work, the time is now.

GEMINI May 21 — June 20

If ever there was a time for you to reach for the stars, it’s right now with the burgeoning Full Moon shining in your second house of self– esteem and self–worth and Venus and Mars in your joint resources zone.

VIRGO

August 23 — September 22 Don’t be too concerned about someone who is intent on giving you a hard time about something irrelevant today. You know you can shut them up quickly.

SAGITTARIUS November 22 — December 21

There are usually 2 ways of doing things Sags – the hard way and the easy way. And you usually prefer the easy way. However, you might not get the chance to make a choice today and have to just do it without getting a choice!

PISCES

February 19 — March 20 A Full Moon shining on your fifth house of romance, self–fulfilment and creativity tomorrow is just the thing to put some pep in your step and make some important decisions Pisces. Enjoy.

Sunday, January 29, 2017

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COMMUNITY

SHOWBIZ

Foreign language Oscar picks: Turmoil turns to escapism By Jeffrey Fleishman

A

t a time of global anxiety, fervent populism and enduring conflict, international filmmakers have turned to marriage, high jinks, history and even a remote island in the middle of the ocean to make sense of things. Those themes were resonant in the Academy Award nominations for foreign language film, which were dominated by European movies that included an eccentric father-daughter comedy, a World War II drama about hidden land mines and the story of a curmudgeonly Swede charmed by his immigrant neighbour. The two other movies among the five nominees were Tanna, an Australian-directed tale of star-crossed lovers on a South Pacific island, and The Salesman, an investigation of a marriage in turmoil by Iranian director Asghar Farhadi. Farhadi won the foreign language Oscar in 2012 for A Separation. Europe’s gaze at itself was revealing. Germany’s Toni Erdmann sets Eastern European capitalism as a backdrop for the strained relationship between a conformist daughter and her prankster father. Denmark’s Land of Mine raises questions about

ACTION: Sandra Huller as Ines in a scene from the movie Toni Erdmann directed by Maren Ade. morality and blame as German soldiers clear land mines on a beach. A Man Called Ove from Sweden looks at immigration through the eyes of a suicidal railroad worker. The nominated films explore the fissures, bonds, expectations and unpredictability of relationships, especially when characters are forced to confront change. The Salesman hits all these notes as a couple navigates vengeance, fear and the insecurities of home after a wife is attacked by a stranger in

the shower. That film, like Toni Erdmann, directed by Maren Ade, draws the viewer deep into the intricacies of psychology and emotion. “It’s in crisis that we reveal our true selves,” Farhadi recently told The Times. “Film to me is like a court trial. The spectator is the judge.” Toni Erdmann has been a favourite of critics, but the way it tests the bounds of family troubles — the father (Winfried) is a rambling jokester who wears

oversized fake teeth and an outfit that makes him look like Big Foot — is bracingly unconventional. Perhaps too much for some in the academy. The unsentimental film crystallises German sardonic wit, yet it movingly plays on Winfried’s act-of-love strategy to embarrass his daughter (Ines) until he frees her from her rigid mask. Tanna summons a different kind existential crisis amid battling tribes in the South Pacific. Unfolding amid thatched huts, grass skirts and a flickering

volcano, the film, based on a true story, centres on the fate of two lovers after one of them is chosen to marry someone in an opposing clan to keep peace and preserve island culture. Directed by Bentley Dean and Martin Butler, the film is a picturesque paean to a way of life far from the tug of modern forces. Land of Mine glimpses the dangerous irony of changing fortunes. It explores compassion, hate and justice along a Danish beach where Nazis had laid 45,000 land mines to prevent an Allied invasion. But the Danish army is back in control and has pressed German POWs into the meticulous task of clearing the mines. Directed by Martin Zandvliet, the movie follows A War, about the Afghanistan conflict, as the second Danish film in two years to be nominated for an Academy Award. Whimsy mixes with Scandinavian stoicism in A Man Called Ove, directed by Hannes Holm, after a laid-off railroad worker and recent widower attempts to hang himself. The title character is a gruff bore who becomes enamoured with his Iranian immigrant neighbour in a tender story that speaks to larger questions of culture and diversity that have been agitating Europe in recent years. “No-one should be all on their own,” Ove’s neighbour tells him. “Not even you.” — Los Angeles Times/TNS

Kajol to play suave businesswoman

IMPRESSED: Nargis Fakhri, left, and Jessica Chastain.

Nargis hails Chastain for ‘pushing the ante’ Bollywood actress Nargis Fakhri, who has been in New York to shoot the last portions of her IndoAmerican film 5 Weddings, is excited to watch actress Jessica Chastain’s much talked about performance in Miss Sloane. The film is releasing on February 3 by PVR Pictures. The actress says she has always liked the work by Chastain, who essays a powerful political lobbyist in the film. “I’ve always liked Jessica

Chastain’s work and the content she stands for. Miss Sloane is a tale of a strong and strategic woman playing the game with the big dogs, using all it takes to win,” Nargis said in a statement. Nargis finds it great to see “women performers push the ante like Jessica and help carve a solid and contemporary image of women in powerful roles”. 5 Weddings is a slice-of-life drama and comedy film directed by Namrata Singh Gujral. Apart from Nargis, the film also features Rajkummar Rao, Bo Derek, Candy Clark, Anneliese van der Pol and Suvinder Vicky. — IANS

In her comeback appearance in Tamil filmdom after a decade, actress Kajol will be seen playing a sophisticated businesswoman in Dhanush’s upcoming Tamil action-drama VIP 2, a source has revealed. “She plays a suave businesswoman, and there will be different shades to her character. She has already joined the sets and has already shot for a week,” a source from the film’s unit said. The film is the sequel to Vela Illa Pattathari, and it’s being directed by Soundarya Rajinikanth. Asked if the rumours about Kajol playing the antagonist are true, the source said: “Her character is such that she will lock horns with Dhanush, but that doesn’t qualify to make her the antagonist. “Audiences are in for a surprise when they watch the film.” The film will be predominantly shot in Pune, apart from a few places in southern India. Dhanush’s Wunderbar Films is bankrolling the project. — IANS NEW ROLE: Kajol.

CALL-UP: Bruno Mars performing in Los Angeles last month.

Bruno Mars added to Grammy lineup Bruno Mars is the latest act to join the lineup for the Grammy Awards in February. The Recording Academy has revealed that Mars will perform for the first time at the Grammys since 2013. Mars, a four-time Grammy winner, is nominated for his work on Adele’s 25, which is up for album of the year. The singer-songwriter joins a lineup that includes John Legend, Metallica, Carrie Underwood, Keith Urban and Adele. Latenight host James Corden will anchor this year’s ceremony, replacing rapper-actor LL Cool J. More performers are expected to be announced soon so keep those fingers crossed for a Beyoncé appearance. The 59th Grammy Awards air live from the Staples Center on February 12. — Los Angeles Times/TNS

16 GULF TIMES Sunday, January 29, 2017

COMMUNITY

Helmet design competition draws fans of Nasser al-Attiyah By Aney Mathew

T

he Dakar may be over, but the thrill of the off-road endurance rally continues, especially for fans of Nasser al-Attiyah, Qatar’s motorsport legend. Fondly called the ‘Prince of Dakar’, Nasser has engaged his fans with a helmet design competition. In what could be considered a dream opportunity for many, Red Bull has come out with a fun competition entitled the ‘Red Bull Helmet Design Competition’, which invites people from all over to come out with a design for Nasser’s helmet. The creator of the design that wins the popular vote and catches Nasser’s eye will be in for a treat. Nasser will sport the helmet with the winning design for all his races in 2017. In addition, the winner gets to travel to watch Nasser compete live in the upcoming Middle East Rally Championship Race (MERC) 2017. The grand prize winner also gets to take home a replica of the winning design. The competition which began early this month will conclude on January 31 (Tuesday). It has already drawn much interest as fans of motorsports from all over the world, especially those with a flair for designing have been entering their submissions online. As entries are posted on social media, the 20 most-voted designs will be shortlisted and presented to Nasser himself, who then decides to pick the design of his choice. The winner will be announced on February 20. Following closely on the heels of the Dakar, the Middle East Rally Championship Race 2017 (MERC) will be flagged off early February at the Qatar International Rally. The motor rally championship which runs under the auspices of the FIA will encompass rallies in Jordan, Cyprus, Lebanon and will conclude in Iran by mid-September. With 12 victories,

The competition which began early this month will conclude on January 31 (Tuesday). It has already drawn much interest as fans of motorsports from all over the world, especially those with a flair for designing have been entering their submissions online. Nasser al-Attiyah is the reigning champion of MERC. Nasser, who has won the Dakar Rally twice (2011 and 2015), also holds the title of being the only Middle Eastern to have made it to the Dakar Hall of Fame two times. Unfortunately though, he had to pull out of this year’s event after facing mechanical problems during stage three of the famous off-road rally. Serving as leader of the Toyota Gazoo Racing team, Nasser had been leading the field at the 414 kilometre mark, when he fell in a hole and broke the rear right-wheel of his car. The incident lost him two hours and 17 minutes

to stage winner Stéphane Peterhansel; the team then took the decision to pull the plug on their Dakar ambitions for this year. As a result Nasser and his co-pilot Mathieu Baumel didn’t take the start of stage four in San Salvador de Jujuy. Commenting on the untoward turn of events, Nasser said, “We were leading the race and we were ahead but what happened was out of our control. After all, that’s a rally rule – sometimes you have good luck but sometimes it’s bad luck. We are not going to stop here, it’s not a defeat but a learning opportunity for us. The year 2017

Nasser al-Attiyah of Toyota Gazoo Racing SA races during stage 1 of Rally Dakar 2017 from Asuncion, Paraguay to Resistencia, Argentina.

holds a busy schedule, we will take part in international races and cross countries and prepare for 2018 Dakar Rally.” The Red Bull helmet design contest is the first-ever such competition conducted in the region. The competition is being held following the popularity and success of a similar competition held in 2014, when fans competed to design the helmet of Daniel Ricciardo, the famous Formula One racing driver for Red Bull. More information on the Red Bull helmet design contest is available on: www.Redbull. com/yallanasser